[Jerusalem Post Middle East] A boat that was damaged last year while carrying peace activists and medical supplies toward the Gaza Strip sank near Cyprus on Monday while being towed to another location, its owners said. Free Gaza group spokesman Ramzi Kysia said the 66-foot yacht SS Dignity sank while being moved from a marina to the port of Larnaca because of bad weather. He said no foul play was suspected but that police are investigating the incident.
The Dignity was seriously damaged in December in a collision with an Israeli navy ship. The activists said the navy rammed the Dignity, while Israel said the boat tried to outmaneuver an Israeli vessel and crashed into it.
Kysia said only makeshift repairs had been completed on the vessel because negotiations with an Egyptian shipyard for full repairs were still under way.
He said plans to send other boats carrying activists and medical supplies to the Palestinian territory on June 1 had not been postponed because of the Dignity's sinking.
Free Gaza has made five successful trips to Gaza - four of them with the Dignity - since August 2008.